Challenge Series Investor Only AMA
SpaceWERX Novel Low Cost Sensing Challenge
A briefing for venture capital, family office, and corporate venture investors.
The U.S. Space Force has a sensing problem. The technologies it needs to track objects in orbit, detect threats, and maintain awareness across the space domain are changing faster than traditional defense procurement can keep up with. SpaceWERX’s Novel Sensing Challenge exists to close that gap—by finding and funding commercial companies building the next generation of sensing capabilities.
This AMA is the first step in the Challenge Investor Series—a curated engagement program connecting private investors to SpaceWERX Challenge companies at each stage of the program.
What you’ll learn
What the Space Force is trying to solve in novel sensing—in plain language, no clearance required
How the Challenge Definition Workshop works and what types of companies should apply
How STRATFI co-investment works and what the return pathway looks like
How to refer a portfolio company to the CDW solicitation
What the full investor engagement sequence looks like—from this AMA through the I2A Showcase dinner
Format
60 minutes • Virtual • No recording • Chatham House rules
The session will include a briefing from the SpaceWERX team, followed by open Q&A. You will leave with enough context to bring the right portfolio companies to the CDW and to evaluate the co-investment opportunity on your own terms.
Who this is for
Investors who are curious about defense tech, already investing in space or sensing adjacent companies, or looking to understand whether SpaceWERX portfolio companies fit their thesis. Prior defense experience is not required.
The Challenge Investor Series
This AMA is step one of a three-part investor engagement sequence:
1 — Virtual AMA: Understand the challenge, refer your portfolio companies to the CDW solicitation
2 — CDW Mixer: Meet the program office at the close of the Challenge Definition Workshop (invitation to follow)
3 — I2A Showcase Dinner: Meet the program office and funded cohort — companies with contracts in hand (invitation to follow)